TEHRAN (Iran News) – Head of Iran-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce Mr. Hossein Salimi says the trade volume of Iran and Afghanistan has been around $2.1b in this Iranian calendar year which is approaching its end.
Salimi said that China, Turkey and Pakistan have sped past Iran in its political and economic ties with Afghanistan in a way that Turkey has even undertaken to build an airport in Afghanistan. Speaking on the current trade condition of Iran and Afghanistan, he said that for normalization of trade ties with Afghanistan both sides need time, adding that although Iranian delegations have met with Afghan officials, it will take time for any major change in the current trade relation between the two states.
He went on to say that currently the goods tie has been restored between Iran and Afghanistan, adding that in the past Afghans used to get $4b aid from the U.S. which has been cut now. He admitted that Afghanistan’s financial condition is not good and strong to act like the past, and Iran should seat and wait what will happen next year.
Salimi noted that Iran had predicted a 2.7-billion-dollar trade volume with Afghanistan for the current Iranian calendar year which has not materialized and the trade with Afghanistan was only good in the first half of the year before Taliban take control of the country, adding that the total trade of the two countries this year has been around $2.1b.
He stated countries like China, Turkey and Pakistan have entered Afghanistan market with full speed and have restored political and economic relations with Afghanistan. He said that the total imports of Afghanistan have been around $7b in the past while the country used to get $4b U.S. aid and Iran accounted for 40% of Afghanistan’s $7b imports.
Salimi went on to say that now these three countries have actually entered the Afghanistan market and there is a tough competition and Iran should boost its political and trade activities otherwise it will lose its position in Afghanistan’s market and the trade volume of $2.7b will not be possible.
He said since countries like the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have no influence in Afghanistan. The chance of Iran for boosting its position increases but at the same time other countries have entered for competition with Iran.
He admitted that domestic problems and issues like the JCPOA have overshadowed Iran’s trade.
